Serena Williams is recognised as one of the greatest athletes in the history of tennis, having won 73 WTA Tour–level singles titles during her 26-year career.

Serena, who also excelled in doubles alongside her sister Venus, won 23 Grand Slam singles titles during her career, the last being at the 2017 Australian Open.

The American legend defeated her sister 6-4, 6-4 in the final – the ninth time the pair had played each other in a Grand Slam final.

By triumphing in Melbourne, Serena won her 23rd major singles title, putting her one ahead of German icon Steffi Graf.

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Graf, like Serena, is one of the 10 women in tennis history who have won all four Grand Slams.

After defeating Venus in the 2017 Australian Open final, Serena reacted to surpassing Graf’s total.

Serena Williams said she had been chasing 23 Grand Slams for ‘a really long time’

After defeating Venus in the final, Serena reacted to her victory while speaking to reporters in Melbourne.

Serena, who also won 14 women’s doubles majors and two mixed doubles Slams, was jubilant after capturing her 23rd singles Slam.

One reporter posed the question: “You finally got rid of Steffi Graf in a way. Took a while, but you deserve it. What is the satisfaction?”

Serena said: “It’s such a great feeling to have 23. It really feels great. Yeah, I’ve been chasing it for a really long time.

 
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“It feels like, really long time. When it got on my radar, I knew I had an opportunity to get there, and I’m here. I’m here.

“It’s a great feeling. No better place to do it than Melbourne.”

Serena was then asked to relay her future goals. Specifically, she was asked whether winning 30 Grand Slam singles titles was a goal she had in mind.

No, no, I definitely don’t. I never had a number,” Serena began.

“That’s the beauty of it. When I started this journey, I just wanted to win a Grand Slam. Then I just wanted to win. Every time I step on the court, I want to win.

“It’s just really remarkable.”

Serena Williams did not reach Margaret Court’s total

Unfortunately for Serena, she did not manage to equal Margaret Court’s record of 24 Grand Slam singles titles.

The American had four opportunities to do so, but failed at the final hurdle on each occasion.

In 2018, she reached the final of Wimbledon and the US Open, losing to Angelique Kerber and Naomi Osaka respectively.

In 2019, Serena made the same two finals. In the Wimbledon final, the American was defeated 6-2, 6-2 by Simona Halep in the final, while in New York, 19-year-old Bianca Andreescu stunned Serena in straight sets: 6-3, 7-5.

After the match, Andreescu revealed how she felt about the prospect of playing Serena.

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The Canadian said: “I was feeling many, many things before the match, more than any other match. In the finals, playing Serena. I just tried to breathe as much as I could from the moment I woke up until the match. I tried to just do that throughout the whole match, to just keep my nerves in place.

“It wasn’t easy at all. But I think that’s what I’ve been doing really well throughout this whole year.”